Archive of Our Own ^beta

Season 1

The first time Finn heard about Byler, he was confused. Clearly fans were unable to distinguish between a good friendship and gay love. Since when did everything he did had to be gay?

Seeing those comments made him frown and he decided that he needed to put his phone down to do something else that’d calm his nerves, however his eyes caught on one specific instagram post.

It was a picture of him and noah together. That was normal, he guessed.

Finn stopped reading, this wasn’t normal he had confirmed. He huffs out a breath and grimaces. Finally, he locks his phone without another glance and drops it onto the bed like it’s burned him.

This is stupid and good thing is that he doesn’t care.

Season 2

Finn was sitting down idly in the set room.

He was slouched into one of the folding chairs, hoodie half-zipped, script abandoned on the table beside him. He had just got done with his scene and he decided to scroll through some posts just to pass time. The room smelled faintly like coffee and fake dirt. Somewhere outside, crew members were yelling about lights.

His screen blared.

Finn exhales sharply through his nose and stops reading

He scrolls past it, mildly annoyed, but then another post loads. it was a picture of Millie and Finn looking at eachother in an interview they had done recently.

Finns squints his eyes and mutters the username underneath his breath. “Foah…” he says, opening the account. “What the fuck is a Foah?”

One look into the account and he’s closing instagram. Is he going to be shipped like this with any co-star he breathes next to? What a load of bullshit. He gets up as the crew members calls out his name, pocketing his phone as he forgets about his unguided journey on instagram once again.

—

Finn was sitting on the floor this time, back against the wall, phone in his hand again despite himself. He’s supposed to be memorizing lines.

“Dude.”

Finn jumps slightly as Noah drops down beside him, legs stretched out, shoulder bumping into his.

“What are you doing?” Noah asks, peering over at his phone without asking.

“Nothing,” Finn says immediately, angling the screen away. “Go away.”

Noah grins. “That’s suspicious.”

“It’s literally not.”

Noah leans in anyway, chin nearly on Finn’s shoulder. “Are you reading comments again finnlard?”

Finn groans. “That name is so annoying.”

“But I thought you liked it…” Noah says, putting his weight on finn, and finn is annoyed. He should be with Millie but she was filming a scene and he had decided to bother him when Finn had much better things to do.

Finn snorts despite himself. “Debatable.”

Noah suddenly gets up from the floor, eyes beaming and mouth wide and Finn already dislikes whatever Noah is going to come up with.

“I’m busy.” Finn says before Noah had anything to say.

“You’re done with your scene.”

“I’m thinking.”

“You’re not, c’mon play cards with us Finn, please.” Noah says, shaking finns shoulders, as if that’ll make him want to play more and he can’t help but roll his eyes.

Finn sighs, defeated. “Fine.“

They end up in the styling room, Noah is already suspiciously confident. Gaten, Sadie and Caleb are already in a circle laughing at some joke together when Finn sits down next to the space between gaten and Caleb and joins in.

Within 5 minutes, Finn realizes something is off.

“Noah,” he says slowly, eyes still on the cards, “Why do you already have all the power-ups?”

Noah hums innocently. “Skill?”

They continue the game and Noah is blatantly cheating at every opportunity. They all decide to team up and defeat him. With one final blow, Sadie hits Noah playfully and Noah is eliminated. He lays down; whining and arguing all over the room despite the clear cut evidence of his elimination.

They get finished with the game and then decide to run along, playing catch, or whatever they deemed the game was at the moment. Finn had a camera in his hands, following his friends around, finding Noah who was giggling and hitting Finn on his back until he ran after him.

After a while he sees Noah laying down on the couch, body still.

“…Are you asleep?” Finn asks.

No response.

Finn zooms in. “Wow. Incredible acting. Emmy-worthy.”

Noah cracks one eye open. “Delete that.”

“Never.”

“You’re so mean.” Noah whines and Finn is laughing at him.

“And you’re a sore loser and also a cheater.”

“I never cheat. Whaaat?” he says, offended as he chases him around, trying to grasp the camera out of finns hands but it’s out of reach.

Finn scoffs, moving the camera even higher.

“Yeah,” he says. “Sure, buddy.”

Noah was like having a little brother who knew exactly how to get under his skin and exactly how to make him laugh five seconds later.

Season 3

The air on set is thick, heavy with heat and voices and movement. Someone has a fan pointed directly at their face. Someone else is complaining about the humidity ruining their hair. Finn stands near the edge of it all, phone in his hand, thumb hovering but unmoving, sweat clinging to the back of his neck.

Finn decides he’s officially over Byler somewhere between scrolling through three to four posts when he searches up his characters name. he has already emotionally checked out of this.

His script is folded in half and shoved into his back pocket, as he continues scrolling through his phone with the detached air of someone who knows better and yet continues anyway.

A post loads.

And finn genuinely can’t deny that because Mike is an asshole. Sometimes. He knows it, why wouldnt he? he literally plays mike wheeler. He’s read the scripts, stood in the scenes, felt the weight of those silences. Mike snaps, withdraws, avoids. And Will—quiet, soft, endlessly patient—keeps taking it. So why in the hell do people want them to be together? he doesn’t really get it.

He scrolls again, half-expecting to feel irritation. Instead, there’s just this dull, amused disbelief. Sadists, he thinks. All of them.

Suddenly a shadow falls over his screen.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Noah asks, appearing beside him out of nowhere.

Finn locks his phone instantly. “I’m not.”

“You are,” Noah says. “That was a smile. I saw it.” Finn just ignores him as he opens his phone again, pretending that Noah isn’t there at all.

After a few minutes of being on their phones together, Finn speaks out loud. “Some people are so weird..”

Noah looks at him, as he straightens up from the slouch. “Oh always… but why are you pissed dude?”

Finn hesitates, then unlocks his phone again and shoves it toward Noah. “Explain this to me.”

Noah scans the post, lips pressing together. Then he makes a face. “People ship will and mike? that’s kinda crazy,”

“THANK YOU,” Finn says immediately, jabbing a finger at the screen.

“But,” Noah continues, “It’s understandable. Cute even.”

Finn groans, “No way. Mike’s a jerk to him half the time and they’re just friends. Although Mike is a pretty sucky one.”

Noah tilts his head. “You play Mike.”

“Yeah, and?” Finn shrugs. “Doesn’t mean I’d be friends with him.” Noah smiles in response. “I’m serious,” Finn insists. “If I knew a Mike Wheeler in real life? I’d be like, dude, maybe stop yelling at your friends and go to therapy. Will has been nothing but nice to him.”

Noah grins. “So you’re anti-Byler?”

“I’m anti-Mike,” Finn says flatly. “Why do people want Will to pine after someone who doesn’t treat him well? That’s not romance. That’s just sad.”

Noah nods thoughtfully. “Yeah. Will deserves someone nice especially after what he’s been through.”

Finn glances at him. “Exactly.”

There’s a beat.

Then Noah squints. “Wait. I like them together though, so don’t get too ahead of yourself.”

Finn snorts. “Gross.” and Noah’s pushing his shoulder and they’re laughing, and Finn realises he truly doesn’t care anymore.

Season 4

Finn had been done with it for a while now—done with the endless scrutiny, done with the photo ops, done with pretending like everything was effortless. Public relationships weren’t hard because of love, he realized—they were hard because everyone else decided what that love should look like. And he wasn’t built for that performance anymore.

The set was quieter than usual this afternoon. Most of the crew were catching up on other scenes, or maybe just sprawled lazily in the warm, sunlit studio, headphones in, scrolling through their own phones. Finn was sitting on the edge of the van, legs dangling out, script resting loosely in his lap.

Noah plopped down next to him, headphones dangling around his neck, a mischievous grin already tugging at his face. He unplugs his headphones from his phone as a pop song plays loudly in the background. Finn groans out loud, “You have to turn that shit off Noah.”

“This is so good— I don’t get why you pretend to hate on popular things when they’re popular for a reason.” Noah argued.

Noah had been sleeping next to Charlie in the van before, and both of them looked tired enough that Finn had taken a picture of them, that had woken Noah up.

Finn had been taking a lot of pictures of Noah.

After bickering some more Noah shoved one of the ear buds of the once again plugged headphones into Finn’s ears before he could protest. The first song blasted into Finn’s brain: something impossibly poppy, with a beat that felt like it had been engineered in a lab to annoy him. Finn froze mid-breath, eyebrows shooting up.

“What is—Noah, what is this?” Finn asked, laughter bubbling already as Noah hummed along, blissfully unaware.

“Nothing,” Noah said, feigning innocence. “Just… a classic.”

Finn shook his head, chuckling. “Classic? This sucks.”

Noah groaned dramatically, tossing himself back onto the side of the van. “I’m sick of you acting like some kind of musical genius.”

“That’s part of the charm,” Finn said, leaning back, letting the warmth of the sun filter across his shirt. “But seriously, how do you listen to this voluntarily?”

Noah tilted his head, pretending to consider it. “It grows on you.”

They fell into a comfortable rhythm after that, shoving each other playfully whenever a song came on that was truly unbearable. Noah would nudge Finn with an elbow. Finn would grab the headphones and unplug it for three seconds before Noah was plugging them again.

After a while, there was a comfortable silence between them.
“I’m glad you’re different now Finn,” Noah said quietly at one point, voice low, almost swallowed by the background chatter of the crew.

Finn tilted his head, squinting. “Yeah? How?”

“You were really tense and quiet at the start of filming,” Noah said carefully, choosing his words. You seem lighter now.”

Finn nods silently.

“Uh yeah I guess i’m okay now, better than I was from before.”

“We were really worried, you know? You can always talk to us. I’m always going to be there for you. At this point, we are like a family now.”

“Oh—yeah I get that. Thank you Noah, it really means a lot. I’m feeling better so you don’t have to worry.”

Noah smiled, and for a moment, they just sat there, letting the words hang in the air.

“Besides,” Finn added with a grin, “I have more important things to focus on.”

“And what would that be?” Noah asked, suspicious.

Finn leaned back, ear bud in, and pointed vaguely toward the phone. “Judging your music taste, obviously.”

Noah laughed, a high, unrestrained sound that made Finn grin too. “Fine. Whatever.”

And for the first time in weeks, Finn felt it—a calmness that wasn’t tied to scripts, or public appearances, or anyone else’s expectations. Just sitting there, shoulder to shoulder with Noah, laughing at terrible music and arguing over songs that didn’t deserve the honor of being listened to twice.

it was nice, laughing like that together with a friend.

And that—Finn realized as Noah hummed another awful tune—was more than enough.

Season 5

Things had changed.

Finn noticed it the moment they touched down in Japan. The chaos of airports, the press, the fans—none of it mattered because the energy between him and Noah had shifted, subtly at first, like gravity tipping ever so slightly. Small gestures, stolen laughs, the way Noah leaned in just a fraction closer when explaining something, the way Finn didn’t even bother hiding his
blatant staring.

After countless dinners and spending all this time together filming. Finn had gotten this realisation, and it was ticking him off for a while now.

It was during a quiet evening after a long day of promotions. They were walking the streets of Tokyo, neon signs buzzing overhead, the smell of grilled food wafting past.

They were walking together, the night down low and the winter breeze leaving them slightly cold and with their hair ruffled.

Noah laughed at something Finn had said, a sharp little snort that made Finn grin, and then the world seemed to pause.

Finn looked at Noah. He thought of him: thought of how much he had changed, how he was more quiet now, more mature but still just as annoying when they had been kids when he got comfortable. How he still tilt upwards to look at him, how his cheeks were slightly flushed and eyes bright.

Noah was always cute, but he was pretty now.

With all the times they had spent with eachother, Finn was enamoured and it really struck him in the moment—how badly Finn wanted him. How badly he needed to kiss him.

Finn grabbed Noah gently by his arm, stopping him in a clumsy step as Noah looked at him, eyes intent as if he was waiting for something.

And then Finn leaned in, pressing a light kiss to Noah’s lips.

Finn pulled back, slightly stunned. Noahs eyes were widened and his cheeks were pink. “Well,” he said, before he leaned in again to kiss finn once more, this one more intense and deep as he wrapped his arms around Finns shoulders.

It seemed so that everything had changed.

____

It was about to be Christmas soon. Finn had a scheduled flight tomorrow morning so Noah had to make the most of Finns presence and spend some time alone with him. They were huddled up together on the couch, a single blanket covering them as the Tv blared out some movie Noah had picked, much to Finns disappointment.

Finn could feel the soft breathing in and out of Noah’s rib cage, feeling that light and comforting push that came with him laying almost completely on finns chest while finns palms were pressed on the warm silver of skin showing on the sides of the noah’s waist— from where his t-shirt was slightly hunched. The press was heavy enough so that noah won’t slide off from the couch, away from Finn; even just a little bit.

Noahs apartment was dimly lit, with only the blueish hue of the winter night from his window contrasted by the golden cast from the movie the tv was playing.

Finn was almost dozing off, he really did not care for the movie but noah had insisted the entire day, talking about how he had caught up with all his work from college just so that he could watch it with him together to see Finns reaction; his thoughts, his perceptions and whatever he will be able to get of him tonight.

He looked at Noahs gaze, fixed intently on the screen, eyes almost shining from the newly formed tears and he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“What?” Noah says, voice a bit scratchy and face in a frown.

“Why are you tearing up? literally nothing is happening.” Finn says, the hand on Noahs waist shifting around so that he could trace circles on his skin, palm etching up higher and higher.

”You don’t get it. Gelphie were supposed to be together.” Noah said, now looking at finn with a seriousness that made finn smile more. Maybe there were better ways to spend the night. And maybe Noah needed to learn how to not give those reactions out that just made Finn want him more.

“That wouldn’t make any sense—” Finn said, Noah sat up straight as he looked at finn.

”You don’t think Byler makes sense either so you have no rights to say that.”

Hearing the word Byler made Finn rolls his eyes in response, as he threw his head back. “God. Noah don’t even start on that.”

Noah shifted slightly, propping his head on Finn’s shoulder again. “Okay,” he said quietly, voice teasing but curious, “I’ve been dying to ask you this for years.” He paused, making Finn raise an eyebrow. “But like— really, why do you hate Byler?”

Finn laughed, a short, incredulous sound, and rolled his eyes. “Because Mike sucks. I hate him. That’s it. I told you before. Simple, right?”

Noah sat up straight again and pouted, geniunely upset. “So you mean you hate us? and don’t want us to be together?”

Finn froze, halfway between annoyance and disbelief. He looked down at Noah, face soft but serious. “That’s two whole different statements and different worlds…” he said voice dropping slightly.

Noah had gotten upset, it was evident, and Finn had to fix this.

“Because of us… I definitely don’t want them together. Even more than before.” he spoke again.

Noah furrowed his brow. “Wait—because of us?”

“Yes,” Finn said, leaning back just a little, hands tracing idle circles on the blanket. “Because Will Byers is a sweetheart. And I can’t tolerate any version of you that’s with someone that’s not me.“

Noah giggles, “Baby, are you serious?” and Finn is about to start on his whole thesis before Noah is pulling him by his hair and kissing him softly— and Finn forgets whatever he had to say as he melts into the kiss, hands on either sides of noah’s waist as he pulls him in.

Noah pulls back a bit, lips slick with saliva as he looks at Finn, threading his fingers lightly through Finns hair. “So you’re jealous. Jealous of Mike Wheeler?”

Finn groans when the kissing stops and he can’t help but admit it. “Fine, Yes i’m jealous. But also because it’s fuckass Mike Wheeler and he sucks.”

Noah brings his hands to cup Finns face as he presses a short sweet kiss on his lips. “But you have me though, so don’t be jealous okay?” and Finn lets out a tiny okay before he’s pushing Noah on the couch, and kissing him properly.

Later that night when Noah is sprawled on the couch, Finn is on his laptop scrolling

Finn was about to reply until he heard Noah shuffling besides him and he had to delete the whole string of insults he had ready when he decided that it would be useless anyway. Maybe this fandom stuff wasn’t for him, considering everyone was telling him to delete his account.

But one thing Finn had realised: who the hell cares about Mike Wheeler? When he has the real life Will Byers, in all his glory, all to himself.

And because he has decided that no matter what; reality is always better than fiction.